Morning links: Hawks, 49ers ready to rumble

In my story today, both Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh tried to downplay the significance of this Sunday’s nationally televised contest between NFC West division rivals Seattle and San Francisco.

“There’s good football teams that we’re playing right out of the blocks here,” Harbaugh told San Francisco-area reporters this week. “Seattle’s an outstanding football team and will be a great test for our team. We know the challenge that’s ahead of us.”

The Seahawks have won nine of their past 10 home openers dating back to the 2003 season. Seattle’s only loss came against this week’s opponent, the 49ers, in a 33-30 overtime loss in 2008.

Seattle holds a 37-26 record in prime-time games. And the Seahawks are 17-11 in Sunday night contests. In Seattle’s last appearance on Sunday Night Football, they defeated the 49ers, 42-13, on Dec. 23 of last year.

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We’re pretty placid in here,” joked Seahawks coach Pete Carroll when asked if his players were as excited as the fans for Sunday’s game at CenturyLink Field. “(We’re) kind of flatlining around here. It’s a good thing. We’ll need that.”

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